Ignoring the Devil's Advice in Uganda

Pastor Robert Opila was rereading the “My Own Bible” discipleship lesson on Christian giving in May of this year when he suddenly felt the Holy Spirit at work, filling him with the conviction to donate his prized motorcycle.

Opila, a Pentecostal Assemblies of God pastor in Uganda, says he was sure that God wanted him to give his Honda Hero to Pastor Joseph Engolu, his senior pastor, who needed the transportation for his ministry.

But, soon enough, Opila started to doubt the conviction he experienced while going through the “My Own Bible Program” lesson titled “Bearing Fruit.”

The “My Own Bible Program” is a six to eight-week guided study of the Bible and its lessons put together by Christian Reformed World Missions Eastern and Southern Uganda in conjunction with the Bible League, Uganda. Students are awarded a Bible after completing the study guide.

Despite the Holy’s Spirit’s leading, Opila says that giving away the motorcycle was not a simple decision. He loved how the motorcycle got him around on Uganda’s rough, often crowded roads. Then Opila heard from the devil.

Speaking in a whisper, the devil told him to reconsider giving Engolu the motorcycle. “Not now, maybe another time,” the devil said.

The devil stirred a war of emotions, and Opila started to seriously consider the devil’s advice. He could always do this later.

Then he received yet another message. This one was the clincher. His made up his mind when a small, still voice rose from within, saying to Opila “everything is from God and for God.”

In obedience to the voice, he says, “I quickly said ‘yes’ to God and the following Sunday I took the motorcycle and handed it over to pastor even with the log book.”

When they learned of his gift of the motorcycle, Pastor Opila says, there was joy and jubilation in the congregation, Pamba Pentecostal Assemblies of God. Out of gratitude, the congregation prayed for him and his family.

“God, you see the heart that has given for your work, may this motorcycle multiply to vehicles and even bigger ones . . . ” they prayed.

Pastor Opila says his obedience to God created a ripple effect, inspiring further giving to the church. He says that after two months, one member donated 50 plastic chairs to the church. “When we obey God, it is not only to glorify God but to impact those around us,” he says.

Still, Opila wondered a time or two if what he had done was best.

But a few months after giving away his motorcycle, Opila was pleased and reassured when he read a religious tract that said: “We can never out-give God even in our obedience to him.”

“There is always a war that is waged when we choose to obey God as Christians. But when we do win the war, God is not only pleased but he congratulates us with rewards,” says Opila.

Church members pray for God's blessings and
protection upon this lorry on Oct. 30, 2011.

Pastor Opila says his case is a “perfect example of the goodness of our God.” Four months after he donated the motorcycle to the church, he and his family received an Isuzu lorry, a vehicle that they use and yet is also big enough to help transport church members for mission programs.

The experience has left Opila with another conviction. He is convinced that he has been given even more energy “to obey God,” he says.

In addition, he says, he frequently encourages “believers to obey God and serve Him with all their hearts . . . Surely God is great, to Him be the glory forever. Amen.”